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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
4.3/5 stars. With a bit of romance, intrigue, and great storytelling, this was an interesting read. If you like Anna Karenina, give this one a shot.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really struggled with how the book bounced around in time. Additionally, this was more of a romance that took place in a historical setting that sold itself as historical fiction rather than a historical romance, if that makes sense.
I received an ecopy of this book through Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
I received an ecopy of this book through Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
Im not normally a dual POV kinda gal, but in this case, it really helped build the suspense and longing. I wish I had known more about Russian history prior to reading this book. It definitely assumes you have some degree of knowledge of Soviet Russian history. I did a lot of googling throughout the book to make sure I understood the political plot. I still don't fully understand why Raisa's family was murdered but I do know this book took me on an emotional journey. I couldn't peel myself away from the pages. I wanted...needed....to know the other pov. At times, I felt like things were coming together too easy, but then she would surprise me. The last chapter gutted me. I was mentally fighting so hard for Tonya and Valya and to know that he was there but not was emotionally devastating. I wish there was more to this book. The beginning and end felt rushed. Kristen certainly put more time and effort into the meat of the story, then kinda slapped it all together at the end. But honestly, the middle was so good I was too emotionally invested to care. I can't wait to see what Loesch puts out next.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
"The Last Russian Doll" is unputdownable, and offers one of the best split
time-period narrations I've read in ages. You know how it so often goes--one time line is great and the other one, usually the modern one, is meh. In this novel, one strand of the story follows Rosie, AKA Raisa, who travels to Russia in 1991 as assistant to a very famous and elderly Soviet dissident. The real purpose of her trip is to find out who killed her father and sister fourteen years ago before she and her mother fled to Britain. The other strand is that of Antonina, the very young bride of a wealthy man who falls in love with a Bolshevik in 1917. Tonya's story is harrowing as she fights to survive the Revolution and the civil war that follows. There are layers and layers to both tales as there are in those Russian matryoshka dolls, and even the inescapable porcelain dolls that haunt Tonya, Raisa's mother, and eventually Raisa.
Kristen Loesch knows her Russian history well, but not only that, she understands both the time periods she's chosen and builds a riveting story of how the Russian people found ways to survive. I was glued to every page.
"The Last Russian Doll" is an excellent historical novel, and if you're hungry for more stories of the Russian Revolution, grad "Sashenka" by Simon Sebag Montefiore or Janet Fitch's "Revolution of Marina M."
time-period narrations I've read in ages. You know how it so often goes--one time line is great and the other one, usually the modern one, is meh. In this novel, one strand of the story follows Rosie, AKA Raisa, who travels to Russia in 1991 as assistant to a very famous and elderly Soviet dissident. The real purpose of her trip is to find out who killed her father and sister fourteen years ago before she and her mother fled to Britain. The other strand is that of Antonina, the very young bride of a wealthy man who falls in love with a Bolshevik in 1917. Tonya's story is harrowing as she fights to survive the Revolution and the civil war that follows. There are layers and layers to both tales as there are in those Russian matryoshka dolls, and even the inescapable porcelain dolls that haunt Tonya, Raisa's mother, and eventually Raisa.
Kristen Loesch knows her Russian history well, but not only that, she understands both the time periods she's chosen and builds a riveting story of how the Russian people found ways to survive. I was glued to every page.
"The Last Russian Doll" is an excellent historical novel, and if you're hungry for more stories of the Russian Revolution, grad "Sashenka" by Simon Sebag Montefiore or Janet Fitch's "Revolution of Marina M."
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated